Air gun



W. S. WELLS May 19, 1953 AIR GUN Filed Jan. 27, 1951 m//z-m ww for@ qfrfoPIYf/S.

Patented May 19, 1953 AIR GUN William S. Wells, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor to Daisy Manufacturing Mich., a. corporation of Michigan Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,092

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates generally to air guns and more particularly to a novel valve construction for use in controlling communication between a compressed air charge chamber and the barrel of the gun, and novel means associated with said valve construction for operating and controlling lthe same.

In compressed air guns such as the type shown in my copending application, Serial No. 70,528, filed January 12, 1949, and now matured into Patent Number 2,604,088, a chamber is provided for containing a charge of air, and a barrel is provided for containing a projectile to be propelled from the gun. Valve means are incorporated between the chamber and barrel so that the air charge may be communicated to the barrel behind the projectile when the valve means is open to permit such communication. In my aforementioned patent application, and in most air guns, a spring-loaded hammer mechanism is employed for striking an element in the valve structure to open the same and permit the flow of air from the chamber to the barrel.

This invention relates primarily to a, novel, inexpensive valve structure for use with the gun illustrated in my aforementioned patent application, but usable also with various other types of compressed air gun structures.

It is an object' ofl this invention to provide a simple valve mechanism or structure which will control communication between an air charge chamber and the gun barrel, and which incorporates a valve element which is adapted to be moved into open position by the air charge itself when the gun trigger is pulled, thus obviating the need for a separate hammer mechanism to open the valve.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an air gun of the aforementioned type, in which simple and inexpensive means are provided for retaining the valve element in a position to prevent communication of the air charge from the chamber to the barrel until the trigger is actuated.

It is another object to providev an air gun structure of the aforementioned type, in which novel and inexpensive means are provided for automatically returning the valve element from its open to closed position after the projectile has been fired and prior to the firing of the next projectile.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in an air gun of the aforementioned type, a novel valve construction and operating or controlling structure therefor, which is' eicient and Company, Plymouth,

durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the air gun of this invention, illustrating the position of the parts just prior to the iiring 0f the gun and illustrating in dot and dash lines the position of certain of the parts after the gun has been red and at the beginning of the compressing operation of a new air charge;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. l, illustrating the position of the parts upon the ring of the gun; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the structure in the vicinity of the valve, showing the position of the parts during the compressing operation of a charge of air.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that an air rifle is illustrated, although it will be understood that this invention is not limited to a rifle or to any particular gun design other than in the manner which will hereinafter appear. The air rie illustrated in the drawing includes a stock I I, barrel I2, and trigger guard and housing I3, all interconnected in a suitable and conventional manner. A longitudinally extending tubular member or cylinder I4 is disposed below the barrel. I2 and the rear portion thereof extends into and is supported by the forward end of a valve body I5, while the intermediate and forward portions thereof are connected to the barrel by any suitable means. A tubular cage member I6 is slidably mounted in cylinder Iii and has one end of link I l of a scissors type pump mechanism I8 connected to the forward end thereof. The other end of link Il is connected to an intermediate portion of a second link I9 by means of a slotted arm 2l pivoted to link Il and to a pin 22 on link I9 engageable with the slotted arm. Link I9 has its forward end (not shown) pivotally connected to the cylinder Ill,

and carries a handle or forearm member 23 on theA rear end thereof. The handle or forearm member 23, as can be seen in Fig. 1, is normally disposed in a flush relationship with the underside of thecylinder I4, but is movable downwardly and forwardly, as shown in dot and dash lines, so as to slide the cage member I6 forwardly in the cylinder I4.

The rearend of the cage member is provided with an -axial aperture through which extends a piston rod 24, the rod having at its rear end when forearm member 23 is lifted, piston 25 willl As Will be seen in Fig. 1.

be adjacent the rear end of 'cylinder M,... leaving.

a small air chamber 28 between the face of the piston and valve body l5. When theforearm member 23 is moved downwardlyA as shown in the dot and dash lines of Fig. 1, the forward' movement of cage I6 will cause forward movement of piston 25 within cylinder M. At the end of its: stroke,.the piston-will allowair. to enter the. cylinder through clearance aperture, 29, andithis air will be compressed when the. cage. isagain movedrearwardly by lifting forearmv 213.. The compressing force will be transmitted; from the cage to the piston through: coil spring 2'l, which iszpreferably of substantial stiffness, but w-ill give an amountdepending onithe compressive force ofthe air. At the end of: the compressionstroke the stop 26 will thusbe moved away slightly from its adjacent wall 3L of the'cage. Upon release ofthe compressed. air within chamber. 28, the air will be forced intofbarrel I2 to propel the pellet 32'. During this action, the expanding movement of spring 21 will-sustain the compressive force of the air throughouty the-travel-of the pellet throughv the barrel, as described in detail inthe aforementioned application;

Meansv are provided for loadinglthe pellets 32 into the barrel, and'this means-.preferablyccmprises cylindrical-bolt 33 which: is.-slidable within atubular bolt slide 34 secured to therearendzofr barrel l2. Aslot or notch 35a is .providedfI inthe upper portion of bolt slide 34;. andthel slideis surrounded by a cover 3b which when infits for- A.pin\ 31. is

wardposition covers the slot 315i. secured tothe. forward end of bolt4 33; and; a knurledknob-38 is securedto the rear. end .of the bolt. Whenthe bOltiS-.slid rearwardly by means 0L knob 38, the cover 36fwillmove'infunisonwithv the. bolt byvirtuel ofA a shoulder; 39v on.V the bolt which holds cover 36: against axial;y movement relative to the bolt.- This rearwardsliding move-- ment will uncover notch 35and draw pin3'! beport 4l in the bolt. slide.

being provided` at the. juncture ofthe-twoA ports. It. will thus. be seen that when the compressed` charge of air isallowed. tov pass` through ports. 42 and 4l intothe barrel, the. air. willibe forcedik against the rear end o: pellet 32.?. to propel: the; pellet through theVV barrel,` the boltbeinglatchedl in its forward position by any conventional means..

Thenovel vand improved meansfoi: controlling4 communication of compression chamber 28 with:

the barrel. I2l comprises @valve 46- slidably supported within valve-bodyl by means of. a concentric insert member 45. This inserta member is held in place by a threaded member 45.,.and an axialaperture 4'1" in the insert member.. supports. valveM for'sliding movement; The valve com- 4 prises an elongated pin having a shoulder 43 thereon adjacent the rear end of the pin, and a tapered head L39 at the rear terminal. The pin s of such length as to extend entirely through valve body l5 when shoulder 48 abuts the rear end of insert 45. The forward end of the valve body is provided with an axial aperture 5l communicating with" chamber' 28 and av shoulder 52 surrounding this aperture.- An annular valve sealing member 53 is rmly secured between the forward end of insert 'l5 and the shoulder 52 of the valve body. This sealing member is preferably constructed of rubber or similar resilient material and is provided with a central aperture 513l connecting aperture El and passageway el. Aperture. 54is|offsuch diameter as to allow the forward end of pin 44 to be pushed therethrough, with the sealing member engaging the pin. However,1when the valve dii is withdrawn from sealing member 53, air may pass into the passageway il and through ay radial` aperture in: the insert member t5, thus passing to valve body port 42 and theneeinto the barrel. 1

The rear endof the valve body is supported by a mounting member 56 of generally cylin-I drical shape, bolt slide 34 being also secured to this member by means of Aa screw 5l.. Means are provided for releasing valve 43 for movement into itsrrearwardor open position andV for further returning the valve into itsforward. or closed` position; This means comprises ay sear 58 pivotally supported at an-intermediatepoint 59 by mounting member 55. The rear end Bl'of the sear` is normally urged downwardly by al spring 62., but` ismovable to an upper position by trig ger 63. The forward end 64 ofA sear- 58. is pro-4 vided with a toe which engages shoulder 48y of valve li-whenthe latterisin itsforward-vposition and-whentoe 6ft is moved upwardly by the action ofk spring 62. vThis position is shown iny Fig'. l,l and it will beseen from this ligure that any4 rearward force on Valve 4dwill. be resisted by the `action of sear 58. This rearward for-ce willbe cree atedby. the compression of` air in ,chamber 28, thecompressive force acting against' the forward end of .valve 4s.- y y l i Anyv suitable meansmay be provided inA order to return valve Lilifromgitsopento itsclosediposi-v tionafter` the gun is.iired,.just soi-long as the valve isclosed priorto the beginning ofthe compres--y sionstrole ofv piston 25. Suitable linkage means. or the like .might befconnected with the air com-y pressing mechanismdor this purpose, but inthe illustrated' embodiment a returnv member 65 is provided. rearwardly of the valve. This return member has anactuating face 6. which is eny gageable with tapered head @i9V of the valve, a: guide portion which isslidably supported by a guide cylinder se," anda @am portion sawmilis engageable a portion of the forearm mem-y ber 23. Guide cylinder Gli` is rie-idly secured toY mounting member 55. byv means ofv anannular portion 'N and acompression coilL spring 'H therein which is engageable with the rear end'of` guide portion Adi or the return member. The spring f'l is so arranged aszto normallyA urge facev 66 of theretur-n member into extended position and against' head idof'the valvey as shown in Fig.4 3, so as to force the valve into its forward.- or closed pesition. However, when the forearm member 23`is in its upper position as shown infFig. 1, a wear plate 'l2 at the rear. end ofthe forearm member will engage the'v curved vcamface '1.3-` of: the return member camJ portion 69i thus'moving; the returnmemberinto .retractedposition against;

thef action of spring 1I and out' of engagement;A

tion in which there is no compression in chamber- 28, and assuming that a pellet 32 has been posi--y tioned in the barrel in accordance with theprevious description, a charge4 of air will b ecompressed within chamber 23 by lowering and then raising forearm member 23. It will be .understood that during this action the valve 44 will be in its closed position as shown in Fig. l, andY will be held against rearward movement by sear 58. When the full charge has been compressed within chamber 28, the air pressure will act against seal member 53Mas well as against theend -of vvalve 44. The pressure of air against sealing member 53 will cause this 'member to tightly surround the valve pin, and air will thus be preventedfrom leakinginto the barrel. This condition Will contnue until trigger 63 is pulled, at which time the toe 64 will be removed from its position behind valve shoulder 48. The valve 44 will .thus be instantaneously released for rearward movement, and the great pressure `of air in chamber 28`will cause the valve to be driven rapidly behind aperture 55, thus allowing the compressed air to enter barrel l2 behind the pellet. It will be observed that since forearm 23 is in its upper position, return member 65 will be held in its'rearward posi tion as shown in Fig. l so that face 66 will be spaced rearwardly from head 49. Thus there will be substantially no resistance to the opening movement of valve 44, and this movement will occur with suchrapidity as to immediately propel pellet 32 with the full compressive force. The propulsion of the pellet will be accompanied by expansion of spring 21 with the effects described in detail in the aforementioned application. Face 66 will serve as a limiting stop for valve 44, thus preventing leakage lof the air through the rear of the valve body and preventing the valve from falling out of aperture 4.1.

After the pellet has been ejected, the valve 44 will remain in its rearmost position as shown in Fig. 2 until it is desired fto reload and recharge the gun. The reloading will take place by rearward movement by bolt 33 as previously described and when the gun is recharged :by movement of forearm 23 and its associated mechanism, the valve 44 is closed to trap the compressed air charge in the chamber. In this embodiment when forearm 23 is moved, plate 12 will be moved away from cam surface 13, allowing spring 1| to urge the return member 65 forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3. The face 66 of the return member will engage head 49 of the valve, thus forcing the valve pin through sealing member 53. The valve will thus be in its closed position with shoulder 48 abutting insert 45, and during movement into this position, the toe 64 of the scar will override shoulder 48 and will engage the shoulder to prevent subsequent rearward movement of the Valve. When forearm 23 is again lifted to compress the charge, return member 65 will again be moved into its retracted position by plate 12, but valve 44 will be held in place by the sear, and the gun will thus again be in condition for firing.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is suseptible to modification, variation and change 65 without' departing from the proper sc'opejor meaning of the subjoined claims. l lWhatisclaimedis: U 1 vl. In an air gun, a barrel ladapted to receive a projectile, a chamber for holding a charge of. compressed air, valvey means disposed betweenv said chamber and saidbarrel for controlling communication between the same, said valve means including a valve body having a passageway cornmunicating with said chamber land with said barrel, a washerlke resilient sealing elementcon` nected with said valve body adjacent said cham-v ber and having one face thereofsubject to the compressive force of compressedair in said chamber, the outer periphery of said sealing element posed in said valve body and having an end por-f tion frictionally insertable into said sealing element aperture when said valve element vis in its closed position so that the compressed'air in said chamber will cause said sealing element to deflect" into tight sealing engagement with saidl valve element and prevent air from flowing from said chamber to said barrel, saidvalve element being' adapted to be forced from engagement with said sealing element `by a charge of air'within said chamber so as to open said valve means; andl permit air to ow from said chamber t'o said barrel, means engageable with .said valveelement to retain the same in its closed positionand releasable to permit 'said 'valve element to Abe moved from its closed to open position when itis desired to propel a projectile from said barrel, and means actuable after said value element has been movedv to its open position to move the same to its closed position.

- 2'.- In an air gunfabarrel adapted to receive a projectile, a chamber for holding `a charge Iof compressed air, valve means disposed between said chamber and said barrel for controlling communie-ation between the same, said valve means including a valve .body having :a passageway communicating with said chamber, an enlarged recess in said valve body communicating with said passageway and terminating in a shoulder adjacent said passageway, a resilient sealing element disposed in said recess and abutting said shoulder, said element having an aperture therein in alignment with said passageway, an insert disposed in said recess and abutting said sealing element, means retaining said insert in said valve body recess in engagement with said sealing element, said insert having a passageway therein communicating with said barrel and in alignment with said valve body passageway and said element aperture, an elongated valve element slidably disposed in said insert and having an end portion frictionally insertable into said sealing element aperture when said valve element is in its closed position to prevent air from owing from said chamber to said barrel, said valve element being adapted to be forced from engagement with said sealing element by a charge of air within said chamber so as to open said valve means and permit air to ow from said chamber tosaid barrel, means for releasably retaining said valve element in its closed position land releasable so that said valve element can move to its open position when it is desired to re a projectile from said barrel, and ,actuatable means for mowfair'.

ings. said f valve elementfifromf its open position to'.`

its closed position. y

3. In -an air gun, a barrel ladapt-,edito receive a projectile, a chamber forv holding a charge of compressed air; charging mechanism for com-L pressi'ng ai'r Within said"v chamber, valve; means disposed'- between saidl chamber and said barre-l1 for`controllingfcommunication'betweenthesame,

saidvalve means-including a-valve body having'a passageway* communicating with saidl chamber andwit-h` said: barrel, a sealing element engaging s'a'idvalve` body adjacent saidchamber-and havvalve" body' passageway, an elongated'y valve element slid'ably disposed said" valve; body andi having an endportion frictionally-insertable into said sealing element aperture when said valve element isv in its closed positionA to prevent air from flowing from said4 chamber'to, said barrel;A

said valve element being adaptedY to. be forced' from engagement with said'sealingelement byv a charge of air within said. chamber so asv to. opensaid valve meansand permit'air to flow fromsaidl chamber to sai'd barrel, means engageable with said valve element to retain the. same in said closed position andreleasable to permit said valve element` to open whenit is desired to propel a.v projectile. from said barrehand actuatable means.

operatively. connected with said charging mechani'sm for moving saidvalve elementfrom its open position toits closed position upon actuation of said.chargingmechanism.`

li.4 In an air gun., abarreladapted to receivea` projectile, means dening .acham'ber for holding. a` charge. of. compressed air and a passageway communicating said. chamber with said barrel, a

Washerlike.- resilient sealing element connected:

with said means betweensaid chamber andy said passagewayI and-,having one face thereof. subject'. to the compressive force of compressedr airin.

saidchamber,r the outerV periphery oi said: sealing elementl being' rigidly conned against' outward1 radial movement land the otherI face of! saidfsealin'gf element; being rigidly: abutted andi retained againstl movement, said` sealing element.. havingA an aperture therein in alignment with a portion ofsaidL passageway, an elongatedl valvev element slidab'ly disposed in.. said means and having one endportionffrictionallyv insertable into said sealingelement apertureso that the compressed air in saidv chamber' will-cause said sealing element todeflect into'tight sealing engagement with said valve element and prevent air flowing from said* chamber to saidfbarrel when said valve element is in engagement with said sealing element,

means engageableV with said valve element to retain' the samefin its closed position in engagementl with Saidsealing element and releasable to` permit said valve element to be moved from its closed to itsopen position when it isv desired to.

-propel a projectile from said' barrel, said valve' element being adapted to be forced from engagement With said sealing element by the charge of compressed air Within said chamberv so as to permit the air to fi'oW from saidchamber to said barrel tlfirough'saidv passageway, land means actuatable after said valve element has been moved' toits'open' position to nieve the same to its closed position. 

